From Brazil to Argentina: A South American trip to promote good practices and innovative solutions in water management.

The World Water Council President, M. Loïc Fauchon, went to South America in March 2025 to discuss good practices, challenges, and innovative solutions in water management in this region. Indeed, following the success of the 8^th World Water Forum, which was held in Brasilia in 2018, it is only logical that our organization seeks to strengthen its partnerships with Brazilian stakeholders.

The President debuted his journey by meeting SABESP and ABES, two major Brazilian water actors, in São Paulo on March 11^th. It was the occasion to visit their key water infrastructures, which led to fruitful exchanges about the role these companies could have in making water accessible to all, including vulnerable communities. For instance, the Vila Dalva was part of the places they visited, and the stakeholders showed their endeavor to provide services to the marginalized groups living there. This trip was also the occasion to discuss collaboration and advancement in water sanitation with government representatives, such as the Infrastructure State Secretary of Brazil, Ms. Natalia Resende. Finally, M. Loïc Fauchon gave a lecture about what is threatening water resources, the importance of youth mobilization and the need for investment in research and innovation to overcome the climate challenges ahead of us.

Then, the President went to Buenos Aires, in Argentina to participate in the 2nd Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Latin American Water Council. Joined by Eric Tardieu, Vice President of the World Water Council, they shared insights and prepared for active participation in the upcoming 11th World Water Forum, which will be held in Riyad (Saudi Arabia) in 2027. M. Fauchon reaffirmed the support of the World Water Council towards the creation of the Latin American Water Council, emphasizing the global challenges of water management across the world.

Highlighting the three pillars for water solutions (knowledge, governance and finance), this Meeting of the Board of Governors was the occasion to emphasize the role Youth can play regarding water challenges. This event, chaired by the President of the Latin American Water Council Prof. Ben Braga, was a great success as it reunited more than 80 persons from several latin-american organizations, including Andres Rodriguez, Argentina's Under-Secretary of State for Water Resources, and in the presence of Chile's Vice-Minister of Public Works. We are looking forward to the next steps of these collaborations, which will certainly be fruitful to work towards the right to access to water for all.